Container

ABSTRACT

The present invention comprises a container for presenting foodstuff and other items in a reliable yet appealing fashion. The container includes a sidewall having an inner surface, wherein the sidewall is configured to substantially define a container volume, the volume being partially defined by an upper edge formed in a top section of the sidewall. Additionally, the container includes a center section that is substantially centrally positioned within the volume defined by the sidewall. The center section is configured to hold foodstuff or other items in the area defined by the center section. The container also includes at least one channel contacting the inner surface, the channel being configured to hold an item placed about the upper edge of the container. The channel can be either integrally formed as part of the inner surface or the channel can be otherwise attached to inner surface.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates generally to containers and, morespecifically, to containers employed to ornamentally display itemsplaced therein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Serving certain foods or displaying other items in a fashion thatis both appealing to the eye and functional is often difficult. Forexample, fashionably presenting shrimp for consumption has long been aproblem. The geometry of shrimp, a general c-shape, entices servers toplace shrimp around an upper edge of bowls or other containers. However,the shrimp's natural unbalanced center of mass makes serving ordisplaying shrimp around the upper edge of a bowl a difficultproposition; the shrimp tend to fall or otherwise dislodge themselveswhen subjected to even mild disturbances, for example, the removal ofone shrimp relative to another. Alternatively, serving shrimp on aplatter or other flat surface is another practice that is commonlyemployed. Although serving shrimp or other items on a flat plate isinherently more stable, an arrangement of shrimp lying flat is notvisually appealing.

[0003] The present invention is directed to a device for maintainingshrimp or other items around the upper edge of bowls or the like thatovercomes the above-mentioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] The present invention comprises a container for presentingfoodstuff and other items in a reliable yet appealing fashion. Thecontainer includes a sidewall having an inner surface, wherein thesidewall is configured to substantially define a container volume, thevolume being partially defined by an upper edge formed in a top sectionof the sidewall. Additionally, the container includes a center sectionthat is substantially centrally positioned within the volume defined bythe sidewall. The center section is configured to hold foodstuff orother items in the area defined by the center section. The containeralso includes at least one channel contacting the inner surface, thechannel being configured to hold an item placed about the upper edge ofthe container. The channel can be either integrally formed as part ofthe inner surface or the channel can be otherwise attached to innersurface.

[0005] As will be readily appreciated from the foregoing summary, theinvention provides a reliable structure for a visually pleasingpresentation of foodstuff or other items.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The preferred and alternative embodiments of the presentinvention are described in detail below with reference to the followingdrawings.

[0007]FIG. 1 is an elevated view of a container made in accordance withthe present invention;

[0008]FIG. 2 is an elevated view of one possible employment of thecontainer made in accordance with the present invention;

[0009]FIG. 3 is an elevated view of an alternative embodiment for thecontainer of the present invention;

[0010]FIG. 4 is an elevated view of a multiple container assembly madein accordance with the present invention; and,

[0011]FIG. 5 depicts an alternative embodiment for the container of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0012] The present invention provides a device for holding items aboutan upper edge of a bowl, glass or other similar container. By way ofoverview and with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, one presently preferredembodiment of the instant invention includes a container 20 including asidewall 22 having an upper edge 24, a lower edge 26, an inner surface28, and an outer surface 30; a plurality of channels 32 disposed aboutinner surface 28 of sidewall 22 having a depth 34 used to hold items,such as shrimp 36; and a center section 38 a substantially centrallydisposed within container 20 used to connect vertically arrangedcontainers 20 (see FIG. 4) or to support items placed therein. In analternative embodiment of the present invention, container 20 mayfurther include one or more handles 40, preferably attached to outersurface 30 of sidewall 22. Specific details of container 20 aredescribed with more particularity below.

[0013] As depicted in FIGS. 1-3, in a presently preferred embodiment,channels 32 are located at an upper section of inner surface 28 of thecontainer's sidewall 22. The upper surface of channels 32 are disclosedas being flush, or otherwise even with upper edge 24 of container 20.However, the upper surface of channels 32 may extend above the upperedge of the container or may be located below the upper edge of thecontainer (not shown). Likewise, depth 34 of channels 32 is variable.More specifically, the channel depth can be merely a fraction of theoverall depth of the container, as depicted in FIGS. 1-3, or the depthmay extend substantially the entire depth of the container, or adistance therebetween (not shown).

[0014] In a presently preferred embodiment as depicted in the FIGURES,channels 32 are substantially cylindrical shaped members. However, anyother channel geometry, for example, c-shaped, t-shaped, or elliptical,is considered within the scope of this invention. Likewise, the spacingof one channel relative to another is not a limiting factor. FIGS. 1-4depict an embodiment having channels abutting one another. Conversely,as depicted in FIG. 5, the container can also be configured withnon-abutting channels 32, or arrangements of both abutting andnon-abutting channels (not shown).

[0015] As depicted in FIGS. 1, 3 and 5, an embodiment of the inventionincludes a container 20 having a center section 38 that may vary instructure. Generally speaking, the center section 38 is the area of thecontainer 20 that occupies the space between substantially diametricallyopposed channels 32. Center section 38 can take substantially any form.As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2, center section 38 a is a substantiallycylindrical shaped section wherein sauces or other items may be placed.Further, center section 38 a can also be used as part of a connectingunit when two or more containers 20 are used collectively as depicted bytower 60 of FIG. 4. As depicted in FIGS. 3 and 5, center section 38 bcan be an open void. Typically this arrangement is found with soup orsalad bowls where a more open center section 38 b is desired.Conversely, center section 38 c can be the relatively small sectionlocated between otherwise abutting channels 32, as depicted in FIG. 4(container 60). This configuration is typically employed with relativelysmaller containers 20.

[0016] The novel features of the instant invention are employable withcontainers formed from any material. In a presently preferredembodiment, the container is a glass material, either colored or clear.However, any material choice for the container, for example, plastic,Plexiglas, ceramic, wood, cloth, or metal or metal alloy, is consideredwithin the scope of this invention. The material choice of channels 32may or may not be constructed of the same material as container 20. Byway of example, the bowl portion of the container may be a ceramicmaterial while channels 32 may be constructed from a glass material.Thus, the overall appearance of the container can be varied to yield adesired visual appearance of the container.

[0017] The manner in which channels 32 are attached to or formed incontainer 20 is largely a function of the manufacture process and/ormaterial choice for the container, and is not intended to limit thescope of the instant invention. More specifically, where the containeris constructed from a material that is easily molded, such as a plastic,channels 32 can be formed as a single piece with the formation ofcontainer 20. Conversely, when the material choice or method ofmanufacture of the container 20 is such that forming channels 32 withthe container 20 is not efficient, or otherwise undesirable, thechannels can be attached to the container by any manner otherwisecommonly know in the art, for example, by an adhesive.

[0018] A novel feature of the instant invention is that the use ofchannels 32 is not limited to the geometry or overall style of container20. In FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, containers 20 (and 60) have a substantiallycylindrical shape, while in FIG. 3, container 50 has a substantiallywine glass shape. In FIG. 5, container 70 has a rounded bowl shape.Consequently, the scope of the instant invention shall not be limited bythe geometry of the container 20. Rather, the scope of the instantinvention covers substantially any container having a sidewall 22defining an upper edge 24.

[0019] While the preferred embodiment of the invention has beenillustrated and described, as noted above, many changes can be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.Accordingly, the scope of the invention is not limited by the disclosureof the preferred embodiment.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A container, comprising:a sidewall having an inner surface configured to substantially define acontainer volume, the sidewall having an upper edge forming a top of thesidewall; a center section, the center section being substantiallycentrally positioned within the sidewall; and, at least one channelcontacting the inner surface, the channel being configured to hold anitem placed about the upper edge of the container.
 2. The container ofclaim 1, wherein the container is constructed from a material that is atleast one of a clear glass, colored glass, plastic, Plexiglas, ceramic,wood, cloth, or metal or metal alloy.
 3. The container of claim 1,wherein the at least one channel has a geometry that is at least one ofa substantially cylindrical, c-shaped or t-shaped element.
 4. Thecontainer of claim 3, wherein the at least one channel is integrallyformed as part of the inner surface.
 5. The container of claim 3,wherein the at least one channel is separate structure attached to theinner surface.
 6. The container of claim 1, further comprising at leastone handle attached to the container.
 7. The container of claim 1,wherein a plurality of containers are connected to form amulti-container display.
 8. A container, comprising: a sidewall havingan inner surface configured to substantially define a container volume,the sidewall having an upper edge forming a top of the sidewall; acenter section, the center section being substantially centrallypositioned within the sidewall; and, a means for holding an item placedabout the upper edge of the container.
 9. The container of claim 8,wherein the container is constructed from a material that is at leastone of a clear glass, colored glass, plastic, Plexiglas, ceramic, wood,cloth, or metal or metal alloy.
 10. The container of claim 8, whereinthe means for holding an item is at least one of a substantiallycylindrical, c-shaped or t-shaped element.
 11. The container of claim10, wherein the means for holding an item is integrally formed as partof the inner surface.
 12. The container of claim 10, wherein the meansfor holding an item is a separate structure attached to the innersurface.
 13. The container of claim 8, further comprising at least onehandle attached to the container.
 14. The container of claim 8, whereina plurality of containers are connected to form a multi-containerdisplay.
 15. A container, comprising: a sidewall having an inner surfaceconfigured to substantially define a container volume, the sidewallhaving an upper edge forming a top of the sidewall; and, at least onechannel, the channel having a top edge, the channel contacting the innersurface, the channel being configured to hold an item placed about theupper edge of the container; wherein the top edge of the at least onechannel is substantially flush with the upper edge.
 16. The container ofclaim 15, wherein the container is constructed from a material that isat least one of a clear glass, colored glass, plastic, Plexiglas,ceramic, wood, cloth, or metal or metal alloy.
 17. The container ofclaim 15, wherein the at least one channel has a geometry that is atleast one of a substantially cylindrical, c-shaped or t-shaped element.18. The container of claim 15, further comprising at least one handleattached to the container.
 19. The container of claim 15, wherein aplurality of containers are connected to form a multi-container display.20. The container of claim 15, further comprising a center section, thecenter section being substantially centrally positioned within thesidewall.